Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Gary Paffett of McLaren topped the timesheets in today’s second young drivers test at Jerez, with the 2005 DTM champion and long-time McLaren test driver setting a fastest time of 01:18.718 in a day dogged by rain.
The Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg with a 2010 race seat for the team set a time of a 1:19.184 in his 94 laps to finish second fastest ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull.
Jules Bianchi could only manage 9th fastest with a 01:20.586 in his 113 laps for Ferrari, after announcing earlier he has signed a long-term contract with the team and will continue his race towards Formula One with a GP2 seat with the ART team in 2010.
The two Brawn GP drivers were almost inseperable – Mike Conway set a 01:20.222 and Marcus Ericsson a 01:20.440, despite the former completing 46 more laps than the Swede Ericsson.
The only driver who forced the red flags to come out was Mirko Bortolotti, when the Toro Rosso man stalled out on track. Bortolotti finished the session last, with his fastest time being a 01:21.761 in his 79 laps.
Times:
01 G. Paffett (McLaren) 01:18.718 80 laps
02 N. Hulkenberg (Williams) 01:19.184 94 laps
03 D. Ricciardo (Red Bull) 01:19.243 92 laps
04 P. di Resta (Force India) 01:19.411 58 laps
05 E. Gutierrez (BMW-Sauber) 01:20.190 68 laps
06 M. Conway (Brawn GP) 01:20.222 83 laps
07 M. Ericsson (Brawn GP) 01:20.440 37 laps
08 J.R. Hildebrand (Force India) 01:20.517 49 laps
09 J. Bianchi (Ferrari) 01:20.586 113 laps
10 L. Di Grassi (Renault) 01:20.898 67 laps
11 H. Tung (Renault) 01:21.492 57 laps
12 M. Bortolotti (Scuderia Toro Rosso) 01:21.761 79 laps
Tags: ART, Brawn GP, Daniel Ricciardo, DTM, Ferrari, Gary Paffett, GP2, Jerez, Jules Bianchi, Marcus Ericsson, McLaren, Mike Conway, Mirko Bortolotti, Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams
Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Williams | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
The new Mercedes team have today announced their two drivers for the Young Drivers Test at Jerez, Spain which will take place later this month – Mike Conway and Marcus Ericsson.
Mike Conway, the 26 year old from Kent, England has previously won the Formula Renault and British F3 titles. This year he has competed in the IndyCar series, with his only podium being a third place. He finished 17th in the drivers standings.
The 19 year old Swede Marcus Ericsonn won the Formula BMW title in 2007 and just this year he has triumphed and won the Japanese F3 title.
The full list of young drivers heading for Jerez so far is:
BMW Sauber:
Alexander Rossi
Esteban Gutierrez
Mercedes:
Mike Conway
Marcus Ericsson
(more…)
Tags: Alexander Rossi, Andy Soucek, Bertrand Baguette, BMW Sauber, Brendon Hartley, British F3, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniel Zampieri, Esteban Gutierrez, Ferrari, Force India, Formula BMW, Formula Renault, Japanese F3, Jerez, JR Hildebrand, Jules Bianchi, Lucas di Grassi, Marco Zipoli, Marcus Ericsson, McLaren, Mercedes, Mike Conway, Mirko Bortolotti, Nico Hulkenberg, Pablo Sanchez Lopez, Paul di Resta, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Williams
Posted in Mercedes GP, News | No Comments »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger
Williams have today confirmed that Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg will join the team for 2010.
Barrichello has enjoyed a fantastic year with Brawn GP, fighting up until the penultimate race for the drivers world championship, narrowly missing out to team mate Jenson Button. Over the weekend Barrichello had stated,
“Everyone would look at a position at Williams, because it is one of the best teams out there – and they are on the way up. So I am definitely looking at that.”
Only last night he was asked by BBC Sport if he could confirm the move to Williams, however he declined.
Nico Hulkenberg is currently Williams young test driver. At 22 he has already enjoyed some Formula 3 and GP2 championship wins in 2008 and 2009.
This now leaves an empty seat in the Brawn GP garage as the drivers start to move from team to team. Nico Rosberg, who has already confirmed that he is leaving Williams is the favourite to fill the empty slot in the Brawn garage.
For more information on the Formula 1 driver lineup for 2010, check out our Ultimate Guide.
Tags: Drivers 2010, Nico Hulkenberg, Rubens Barrichello, Williams
Posted in News, Williams | No Comments »
Friday, October 30th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger
Frank Williams has confirmed to Autosport that the Williams Formula 1 team will switch to Cosworth engines next year. Williams’ contract with existing engine manufacturer Toyota has now expired which allowed the team to look further afield for a deal for 2010 onwards. Frank Willams said,
“We’ve finished our contract with Toyota and we’ve moved on to a British engine manufacturer Cosworth with whom we have won many world championships in the past. They are 50 miles away from Williams which is very convenient. Besides we also like our independence. We will be not under the influence, not that Toyota ever bossed around, but we’ve just gone a private and independent route.”
Williams also announced that they will be confirming their drivers for 2010 on Monday. After weeks of speculation, it has been strongly suggested that Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenburg will drive for the team. Nico Rosberg confirmed yesterday that he will leave the team after the Abu Dhabi race, assumingly because already has a drive elsewhere (either McLaren or Brawn GP). Pointing to this, Williams said,
“There are a few things going on at Williams for next season, with our engines, so we thought we can do better. Nico is German and Mercedes need at least one German driver to sit before their engine.”
Tags: Cosworth, Frank Williams, Nico Hulkenberg, Nico Rosberg, Rubens Barrichello, Toyota, Williams
Posted in News, Williams | No Comments »
Sunday, October 25th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger
Willi Weber, Michael Schumacher’s manager, has suggested that both Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenburg (Williams current test driver) will race for Williams next season. Weber also manages Hulkenburg, speaking to Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper on the subject he said,
“I think he will be a match for his new teammate Barrichello”
By all means this isn’t confirmed, but the language used appears to be said as fact, rather than conjecture. We will soon see…
Tags: Nico Hulkenberg, Rubens Barrichello, Willi Weber, Williams
Posted in News, Williams | No Comments »
